New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Dongiswepiche’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongiswepiche’ characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; red-colored flowers with very light red-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGISWEPICHE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongiswepiche’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-0009, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-001579-020, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongiswepiche’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongiswepiche’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Red-colored flowers with very light red-colored centers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as compact as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and very light         red in color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent         selection are pink and magenta in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and very light         red in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent         selection are blush pink and light orange in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetrest’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,375. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duepetrest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as compact as plants of         ‘Duepetrest’.     -   2. The lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are         green in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Duepetrest’ are dark red in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duepetrest’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and very light         red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duepetrest’ are soft         red and light lavender bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dueptbus14’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,780. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Dueptbus14’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Dueptbus14’.     -   2. The lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are         green in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Dueptbus14’ are deep red in color.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red and very light         red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dueptbus14’ are         bright red and red purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (sheet 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiswepiche’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (sheet 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiswepiche’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 lux. Plants were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongiswepiche’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-0009, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-001579-020, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and             dense appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 42 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about 12 to 15             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 16 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading, about 45°             from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146A heavily tinged with close             to 187A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 146A; at the internodes,             tinged with close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than 147A;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144A to 144B             tinged with close to 187B.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             glossy.         -   Petiole texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144A to             144B slightly and variably tinged with close to 187B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers             that are roughly rectangular in shape; freely flowering             habit, typically about three to four opening and fully             opened flowers per lateral branch; flowers are mostly flat             and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers             typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy Color: Close to 144A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.4 cm by 4.8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 2.2 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3.2 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 2.6 cm. Width, banner petal: About 2.4 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 2.4 cm. Width, lower petals: About             2.4 cm. Shape, banner petals: Broadly cordate. Shape,             lateral and lower petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals:             Cordate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Entire, slightly undulate. Texture and luster, all petals,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy;             iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Center, close to 52A; towards the             margins, close to 52B; towards the base, close to 55D;             venation, similar to lamina; very light red coloration             becomes more dominant with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Center, close to 55A; towards             the margins, close to 55B; towards the base, close to 55D;             venation, similar to lamina; color becoming closer to 55A             with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Long acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Truncate, fused. Lateral sepal margin: Entire. Lateral             sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Lateral sepal color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144C to 144D. Spur length: About             4 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less             than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close             to 144D slightly and variably tinged with close to 59B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 4 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 141A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiswepiche’ as illustrated and described. 